Author Profile
James started his career in video games as News Editor on Nintendo Life. Since leaving in 2012 to join Nintendo of Europe, James has risen through the ranks to become NoE's Senior Product PR & Corporate Communications Manager.
Don't catch it
Cast your mind back a few months to the launch of Ubongo on DSiWare. In that instance, Korner Entertainment took a popular board game and turned it into a mediocre puzzle/board game; here, Korner has removed the board game licence, the story and the gem-grabbing puzzle mode to reduce the package right down to its barebones. Is it...
News Would You Pay $150 for this Metal Sonic Statue?
We know someone who would
First 4 Figures has made a name for itself with high-end statues and dioramas, but quality doesn't come cheaply. The company has opened pre-orders on its new Metal Sonic statue, starting at just $155. As with previous lines, there are two versions available: a 'standard' edition at $154.99 and a more expensive exclusive...
News North America Nintendo Video Service Due "Later This Summer"
Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week...
Tomorrow, Europe gets the Nintendo Video application, as does Japan. Nintendo of America hasn't formally announced its plans yet, but now we have a bit more information and it doesn't sound entirely promising. Nintendo of America informed Joystiq that the service will arrive "later this summer". Granted,...
Competition Free Buy-In for Our Ante Up: Texas Hold'em DSiWare Competition (North America)
Five copies up for grabs
Ante Up: Texas Hold'em is one of the better poker games available on DSiWare, and now we have five copies of the game to give away to DSi owners in North America, coinciding with the happening-right-now World Series of Poker. If you want to win the game, be sure to follow MonkeyPaw Games on Twitter and follow Nintendo Life...
News Retro Roads Never Looked Better Than 3D Pixel Racing
Blocks are best
If we said "here's a cool-looking racing game from the creators of Enjoy Your Massage!" you'd probably close your browser and race to scrub your eyes clean of those three hideous words linked to one of WiiWare's worst-ever games. Don't do that, though — 3D Pixel Racing actually looks kind of cool. Boasting a graphical...
News Bobby Carrot Forever Finally Ready for Release Next Week
Something to chew on
Bobby Carrot Forever has been in development a long, long time: our news coverage dates back to December 2008, but after years of toiling FDG Entertainment's leporine hero is finally ready for action. On 21st July the game will hit the Wii Shop Channel for 800 Points, a pretty reasonable asking price for a 15 hour game with 72...
News Flip Over Antipole on 21st July
500pts for puzzle platformer
After shooter Cosmos X2, Saturnine Games is ready to release its second DSiWare game. Antipole, next week. The gravity-bending platform puzzle game will reach DSiWare in North America on 21st July and sell for 500 Points. Saturnine also sent over the launch trailer below, so check it out and pop back after the 21st for...
News Nintendo Video Application Launches in Europe This Week
3D TV in your hand
The 3DS eShop will be updated this week with the much anticipated Nintendo Video application. Nintendo is hosting a 3DS event in the UK next Tuesday. The invitation bears the phrase "you won't believe your eyes" — could this be related to the 3D video application? Download the free Nintendo Video application, only for...
News Metroid Remix Album Sounds Pretty Sweet So Far
Samus it ever was
Next month marks the 25th anniversary of Metroid, and dedicated fan community ShineSparkers has just released a preview of remix album Harmony of a Hunter. The OCRemix project contains tracks spanning Samus Aran's gaming history, from 8-bit to today, with styles ranging from electronic to choral. The snippets provided so far...
News First Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Screens and Art Appear
To the Cloud!
The 3DS's first taste of Final Fantasy gaming is coming in the unexpected form of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, a rhythm game in a Chibi style. Contrary to early reports, the game is not developed by Jupiter, the team behind the phenomenal The World Ends With You, but instead Electroplankton and Retro Game Challenge team indieszero is...
News After WWE All-Stars, Wrestlers Begin to Brawl
Take it outside
WWE All-Stars took the wrestling game template and tore it up, but the newly revealed WWE Brawl looks like it'll take the template and body-slam it through a concrete block. New footage of the Wii game shows a street fight scenario where wrestlers have superhuman abilities, taking the All-Stars idea a touch further. Check out the...
News Xenoblade Artwork and Screenshots Show a Lot of Heart
Affinity mode featured
Having found itself at the centre of a huge operation revolving around its localisation, Xenoblade Chronicles certainly has a lot to prove, but judging from this artwork it's got no fears in that department. New screenshots from Nintendo show the game's party affinity system, showing how well members of your team like each...
News Let's Get Ready to Super Pokemon Rumble on 3DS
Gotta bash 'em all
WiiWare monster fans will remember Pokémon Rumble, in which your toy Pokémon fought others in a last-one-standing battle royale. That excitement is coming to 3DS soon with Super Pokémon Rumble (also known as Super Pokémon Scramble) out in Japan this summer. The game uses the classic top-down viewpoint as you battle other toy...
News Videogame History Museum Needs Your Donations
Needs to raise $30,000
In the UK, the Retro Computer Museum just moved to a new home, and now the Videogame History Museum over in Silicon Valley needs to raise funds for its own bricks-and-mortar initiative. The non-profit charity needs to raise $30,000 to build itself a permanent building in which to house its classic coin-ops, consoles and gaming...
News Nintendo Researching Mobile Phone Possibilities
Don't rule it out
In the days of the Game Boy, the idea of a portable telephonic device that also contained a powerful games console was a complete pipe dream, but here in the 21st Century the smartphone market undeniably overlaps with Nintendo's handheld consoles. Never one to be bullied out of its own game, Nintendo has conducted considerable...
News The Thought of a Shooter-Only Future Makes Iwata Sad
Don't make him cry
Here in the West, lots of people like video games in which you shoot people. This is a fact. The war shooter genre, driven by the likes of Call of Duty and Battlefield, has become a huge industry in its own right, raking in countless millions of dollars worldwide every year. Don't tell Satoru Iwata this is the way all games are...
News Iwata Knows 3DS Launch Line-Up was Lacklustre
Big titles were AWOL
The 3DS launched without a Mario or Zelda game, and it's fair to say the machine's sales so far haven't been stunning. Satoru Iwata was recently asked about this matter during a shareholder Q&A, and acknowledged the machine's software line-up wasn't impressive. If we had have launched the Nintendo 3DS after we had prepared...
News Amoebattle Featured in Indie Showcase Top Ten
Only Nintendo game nominated
Real-time strategy game Amoebattle is evolving onto DSiWare later this year, and it's already lined up in a high-profile indie games showcase this month. The Develop Expo's Indie Showcase highlights the best independent studios in the world, with Intrinsic Games featuring alongside nine other teams. Amoebattle is also...
News Awesome Nintendo Hip-Hop Starts Your Weekend Right
Block-bashing beats
We love a bit of Nintendo-inspired music, and it's testament to the company's creativity that it inspires artists over a wide range of genres, from Japanese beatboxers to Mario Kart jazz. Hip hop artist Heath McNease is a new favourite here at Nintendo Life Towers, waxing lyrical about Tanooki suits, the Konami code and...
News Nintendo Faces Lawsuit Over 3DS Screen Patent Infringement
Here comes the science
The whole 3D-without-glasses deal is still pretty impressive several months after the 3DS launch, but Tomita Technologies isn't happy about seeing the tech turn up in Nintendo's latest portable, taking the company to court with claims of patent infringement. Seijiri Tomita, a veteran engineer who worked at Sony for 30 years,...
Rumour Kid Icarus: Uprising to Miss 2011 in Europe
Pit overshoots
It seems 3DS owners in Europe might have to keep waiting for Pit's long-awaited return: Kid Icarus: Uprising might not see release this year. Nintendo Life reporter Marcel Van Duyn attended a Nintendo preview event today, where Kid Icarus: Uprising was marked down for a "Q1 2012" release, meaning it would miss the lucrative...
Nintendo Download 7th July 2011 (North America)
A strong week?
Another one-two punch of 3DS Virtual Console games this week, as well as a mixed bag of DSiWare and a little musical entertainment on WiiWare. Let's do this. 3DS Virtual Console: Fortified Zone (Jaleco, Game Boy, $2.99) — Guide a male and female soldier through the fortified zone in this top-down shooter. It may not be the most...
News Mixed Wii U Reaction and Share Dip Doesn't Faze Iwata
Proceed with confidence
Nintendo's shares fell 10% after the Wii U was revealed, a surprising result considering many of the hands-on impressions of the console were positive. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata is puzzled by this situation, but still has faith in Nintendo's new console. Answering questions at the company's 71st annual general meeting,...
Nintendo Download 7th July 2011 (Europe)
A double 3DS delight
Frustrated that Japan is getting all the 3DS Virtual Console games before Europe? The comeback starts here, with two games released on the portable's download retro service this week, as well as a pair of DSiWare games and even a WiiWare adventure too. Read on. 3DS Virtual Console: Fortified Zone (Jaleco, €3/£2.70) — A spot...
